British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton revived his F1 title defence by winning the British Grand Prix for the 8th time on Sunday at Silverstone. He came out on top despite a 10-second penalty for colliding with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, knocking him out of the race.

Egged on by a crowd of more than 140,000, Hamilton tried to overtake Verstappen on Copse corner on the first lap. However, sent the Red Bull driver off the track and into the barrier.

Following this,  the race was suspended with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in the lead as crews worked to remove Verstappen’s car and the stewards reviewed the incident.

But Hamilton caught the Ferrari driver and overtook him at Corpse on lap 50 of the 52-lap race.

In the meantime, Verstappen was taken to hospital “for further precautionary tests”, said Red Bull.

“Thank god he’s walked away unscathed,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told the race director.

“Full blame lays on Hamilton who should never have been in that position.”

“That was a really nasty accident. It’s like a professional foul,” Horner later told British TV.

Hamilton was handed a 10-second penalty, which he could take during a pit stop.

“Following an assessment by the trackside doctors at Silverstone Circuit Medical Centre, Max Verstappen has been taken to a local hospital,” said Red Bull’s tweet.

During the pause in the action the teams and drivers involved lobbied race organisers and the stewards both in person and on the radio.

Team principals Toto Wolff of Mercedes and Horner both visited the officials’ room in the pit lane.

Hamilton pleaded his case in a radio chat with his team.

“I was ahead coming in there,” he said. “It was my line. I was giving the guy space.”

“I’ve had a chance to look at that footage. Lewis was significantly alongside on the inside of turn nine.”

Horner argued the opposite in a radio call with Massey

“That corner, he was never anywhere near alongside,” Horner said.

“Every driver that’s driven this circuit knows you do not stick a wheel up the inside at Copse. That’s an enormous accident and it was 100% Max’s corner. Full blame lays on Hamilton who should never have been in that position.”

“Thank god he’s walked away unscathed. I hope you’re going to deal with it appropriately,” Horner concluded, before repeating the sentiment to the TV cameras in the pit lane.

Verstappen had won the last three races to build a 33-point lead over seven-time champion Hamilton.